Yeongwol County in Gangwon Province is riding high on the success of 'The Man Who Lives with the King' (Wangsa-nam), a blockbuster film about King Danjong, the sixth monarch of Joseon. Now, all eyes are on April to see if the county can keep the momentum going. The 59th Danjong Cultural Festival is set to make a splash with support from the 'Wangsa-nam' production team, including a nationwide culinary event called 'Danjong's Gourmet Festival'. Adding to the excitement, a special half-price travel promotion is in the works.
According to Yeongwol County officials, the 59th Danjong Cultural Festival will take place from April 24-26. The festivities will unfold across several iconic locations: the UNESCO World Heritage site Jangneung, the picturesque Donggang riverside, and the historic Cheongnyeongpo area. The Yeongwol Cultural Tourism Foundation is taking the reins on this event, which carries the poignant theme "The King's Return, Prelude to Hope" - a tribute to King Danjong, whose reign was cut short by King Sejo.
Festival-goers can look forward to a diverse lineup of events. The highlights include 'Danjong1698', a musical that commemorates the year 1698 when King Sukjong posthumously restored Danjong's royal status. Other attractions feature a reenactment of Danjong's state funeral, a vibrant costume parade, a solemn memorial ceremony for Danjong, a pageant to select a Queen Jeongsun lookalike, and an array of captivating K-performances.
Buzz is building that this year's festival could be bigger than ever. As of March 8, Cheongnyeongpo and Jangneung have already welcomed about 117,000 visitors this year. Thanks to the runaway success of 'Wangsa-nam', which has drawn a whopping 11 million viewers, these historic sites have managed to attract nearly half of last year's total visitors (around 230,000) in just two months.
The upcoming festival is poised to capitalize on the 'Wangsa-nam' phenomenon and favorable travel conditions, potentially drawing even more visitors to Cheongnyeongpo and Jangneung. In a star-studded twist, 'Wangsa-nam' director Jang Hang-jun is slated to make an appearance in Yeongwol on the festival's opening day, April 24. Not to be outdone, Park Ji-hoon, who portrayed King Danjong in the film, has also pledged his support for promotional activities.
Food lovers are in for a treat with 'Danjong's Gourmet Festival: Culinary Mine' taking place at the Donggang riverside during the festival. The event kicks off on April 24 with an exclusive talk and tasting session featuring the food director from 'Wangsa-nam'. The culinary excitement continues on April 25 with a nationwide cooking competition.
Adding to the allure, Yeongwol is set to benefit from an enticing April 'half-price travel' promotion. This initiative, part of the government's new 'Local Love Vacation Support' program, will see a whopping 6.5 billion KRW (approximately 4.875 million USD) invested to boost domestic tourism. The program offers a sweet deal: 50% cashback on travel expenses in the form of mobile local gift certificates. Yeongwol proudly stands as one of just 16 regions nationwide selected for this program.
County officials and foundation representatives are cautiously optimistic. They noted, "We've seen a significant uptick in visitors to Cheongnyeongpo and Jangneung, thanks to the popularity of 'Wangsa-nam' and recent holiday periods. While we can't guarantee these favorable conditions will persist, we're pulling out all the stops to ensure the Danjong Cultural Festival is a resounding success."
